Fountain type lettering pen



March 24, 1959 J. MILLER 2,878,782

FOUNTAIN TYPE LETTERING PEN Filed Sept. 27. 1956 INVENTOR. dAcK iVhLLER ,4 TTORNEY United States Patent This invention relates to improvements in fountain pens and has particular reference to a new and useful foun tain type lettering pen.

The invention has for its object the provision of a lettering pen of the type commonly known upon the market as Speed Ball and with the pen embodying a handle forming barrel for the reception of an ink cartridge, a coupling member between the barrel and the pen point, together with a piercing type of feed tube whereby to conduct ink from the cartridge to a point adjacent the writing end of the pen point.

The invention further contemplates a lettering pen of the character indicated wherein a feed tube is held in accurate axial alignment in the lower end of the barrel whereby one end of the feed tube serves to puncture a puncturable cap in the cartridge and with the feed tube being extended outwardly to enter an aperture formed in a shoulder portion of the pen point.

The invention contemplates a novel form of coupling means that serve the dual function of providing a socket for the detachable reception of the pen point and also as a coupling means whereby to support and align the feed tube against movement during the use of the device.

Novel features of construction and operation of the device will be more clearly apparent during the course of the following description, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings wherein has been illustrated a preferred form of the device and wherein like characters of reference are employed to denote like parts throughout the several figures.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a lettering pen constructed in accordance with the invention,

Figure 2 is a view at right angles to Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a slightly enlarged longitudinal sectional view taken substantially on line 3-3 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the pen point, the coupling socket device and the feed tube,

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the combined pen socket and coupling means and Figure 6 is an enlarged transverse section taken substantially on line 66 of Figure 3.

Referring specifically to the drawings, the numeral 5 designates a cylindrical barrel that is open at its upper end and that is provided with a bottom 6. The barrel 5 may be tapered at its opposite ends for purpose of ornamentation. The lower end of the barrel 5 is axially bored at 7 for the reception of a collar 8 rigidly connected upOn a feed tube '9. The bore 7 terminates in a stop shoulder 10 to limit the movement of the collar 8 with respect to the barrel. The lower end of the barrel is further centrally and axially bored at 11 whereby a piercing end 12 of the pen will project into the barrel. The bore 7 adjacent its lower end is threaded as at 13 for the reception of a threaded sleeve 14. The sleeve 14 is connected to a sheet metal extension 15 that is semicircular in cross-section and preferably soldered or other- 2,878,782 Patented Mar. 24, 1959 2 wise rigidly connected to the sleeve 14 co -axial thereto. The marginal portions of the extension 15 areflared out wardly and downwardly, forming wing portions 15a and with the free edges of the wing portions bent upon themselves to form longitudinal socket grooves 16. The socket grooves 16 are adapted to snugly receive the semi-circular upper shank end 17 of the conventional 1 Speed Ball pen 18. The pen 18 is provided withthe usual overlying flexible tongue 19 having a shoulderportion 20 and with the tongue being permanently united with the body of the pen 21 as shown at 22. The shoulder 20 is apertured at 23 and with the aperture being in axial alignment with the aperture of the sleeve 14 when the pen is in assembled relation with the coupling 1 5. While the coupling 15 has been shown and described as being.

of separate parts soldered or otherwise connected together, it is apparent that the coupling may be formed in a single integral structure. v

The aperture 14a of the sleeve 14 serves as a guide for the feed tube 9 and whereby to accurately position the tube with respect to the aperture 23 of the pen and in fully assembled relation, the tube 9 terminates at a point beyond the shoulder 20 for discharging ink to the flexible point of the pen. Disposed within the barrel 5,.

is an ink holding cartridge 24, preferably formed of glass, plastic or other desirable materials and open atits opposite ends. The cartridge at its lower end is normally closed by a puncturable cap 25, of rubber or other i The cartridge at its upper end is' suitable material. closed by a bulb-type cap 26, whereby ink may be forced from the barrel end through the feed tube 9 to the pen point. The cartridge normally projects abovethe top of the barrel 5 to facilitate its engagement with the punc turing end f the feed tube and to also facilitate the withdrawing of the cartridge whereby to substitute a new cartridge or for disassembling the structure for cleaning purposes.

In the use of the device, the feed tube and its collar 8 are inserted into the bore 7 of the barrel 5, causing the sharpened end 12 of the tube to project inwardly of the barrel axially thereof. The coupling member is then engaged over the tube 9 and forced axially to engage its threaded sleeve 14 with the threads 13 of the bore 7 and when screwed into position, serves to rigidly fix the tube 9 in a position to project beyond the coupling. The shank end 17 of the pen 18 is then engaged within the socket groove 16 to a point where the lower end of the tube 9 enters the aperture 23. The parts are now rigidly connected and ready to use. A cartridge 24 is then inserted into the barrel from the upper end and forced downwardly to engage the bottom 6, in which position the cap 25 has been pierced by the end 12 of the tube 9, forming a communicating channel from the cartridge to a point adjacent the writing end of the pen 18. As ink is desired upon the pen point, the operator presses upon the bulb 26, which action is adequate to eject substantially one drop of ink upon the pen body 21, where it flows downwardly to the writing point. It is contemplated that the barrel 5, the coupling 15 and the feed tube 9 with its collar 8 shall all be formed of any desirable metal having a resistance to rusting or corroding.

It will be apparent, that a very novel form of lettering pen has been provided whereby a fountain feed conducts ink to the Well known Speed Ball lettering pen point. The pen point has been modified to the extent that the shoulder 20 has been apertured for the passage of the feed tube 9 and it is contemplated that various grades and sizes of the Speed Ball pen shall be utilized and provided with the aperture 23 in their shoulder, thus providing a fountain type pen for use with the various sizes of lettering pens, only requiring that the pen point 18 be disengaged from the socket groove 16 and a pen of the and the feed tube are quickly and easily disassembled whereby the feed tube may be easily cleaned by inserting a wire therethrough, should the ink become dry therein. The device readily adapts itself to the novel form of ink cartridge and whereby various colors and grades of ink may be employed. The sleeve 14 and the extension 15 form a novel coupling means having a pen socket. The parts are few and simple, are strong, durable and highly effective as a fountain type lettering pen, that permits of continued and uninterrupted use of the device to the extent of the ink supply within the cartridge. The cartridge is economical to manufacture, and is quickly and easily removed and replaced.

, It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangement shown but that changes are contemplated as readily fall within the spirit of the invention as shall be determined by the scope of the subjoined claims. I

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A fountain-type lettering pen of the character described in combination, a barrel to serve as a handle and having a main bore and a bottom and an open top, said bottom provided with an axial bore that is partially threaded, said bottom having a reduced longitudinal bore formed therein and communicating with the first named bore and the main 'bore of the barrel, an ink holding cartridge removably mounted within the main bore of the barrel and having a puncturable end, a coupling member having a longitudinal bore and a threaded sleeve for threaded engagement within the axial bore of the barrel, the coupling member having a pair of grooved wing sections for the reception of the upper arcuate shank portion of a lettering pen point of the type that is provided with a shoulder portion, the said shoulder portion being provided with an aperture, a single elongated feed tube movably mounted within the bore of the coupling member and the reduced bore ofthe bottom of the barrel, the upper end of the feed tubeprojecting into the bore of the barrel and puncturing the puncturable end of said cartridge, the lower end of the single feed tube extending longitudinally beyond said coupling and projecting through the aperture of the shoulder of the pen point, a collar secured to the feed tube at its intermediate portion and held against longitudinal movement on said single feed tube, said collar being arranged between the inner end of the axial bore of the barrel and the threaded sleeve of the coupling member.

2. The structure according to claim 1, wherein the bores of the barrel, the bore of the coupling member and the aperture of the pen shoulder are in axial alignment.

3. The structure according to claim I, wherein the coupling member embodies a cylindrical and axially bored body and a relatively thin U-shaped extension, the extension flaring laterally upon opposite sides and bent upon itself to form inwardly opening grooves and whereby to f rm a socket for the reception of the marginal edges of the arcuate shank portion of the pen point and whereby to detachably connect the pen point to the coupling member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,038,743 Gilbert Sept. 17, l9l2 2,367,540 Scott Jan. 16, 1945 2,726,638 Hackmyer Dec. 13, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS v 45,768 Germany June 14, 1888 57,474 France Nov. 5, 1952 (Addition to No. 941,264) 

